Saudi Arabia to let women attend sports events in stadiums for first time

Saudi Arabia will allow women into sports stadiums beginning in 2018, the BBC reported on Sunday.

The country’s officials announced that women, who are currently banned from entering the facilities, will be able to attend sports events at stadiums in the cities of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.

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Saudi Arabian sports authorities said they’re beginning preparations in each of the three stadiums so the facilities are “ready to accommodate families from early 2018,” according to the BBC.

This is the latest move to expand rights for women in Saudi Arabia. The country announced last month that women would be allowed to drive starting next June.

However, women in Saudi Arabia still face limited rights in the country. They must follow strict dress codes, require a male guardian or a male guardian’s permission for travel and cannot interact with men they aren’t related to.